Portable fluid gauge

ABSTRACT

A portable gauge for measuring the fluid contents of a container having an opening circumscribed by a substantially horizontal wall portion, said gauge having a base adapted to rest on said wall portion, a transparent tubular float extended through the base for free elevational movement with respect thereto, and a scale extended longitudinally of the float adjacent to the base for visual comparison therewith, the scale being calibrated in terms of the volumetric contents of the container at various fluid levels therein.

United States Patent Lasher [5 1 PORTABLE FLUID GAUGE [72] Inventor:George 1 D. Lasher, 858 Carmen,

Fresno, Calif. 94538 221 Filed: Sept. 10,1970 21-1 Appl.No.: 70,999

[52] US. Cl; ..73/322, 73/323, 116/118 R,

285/4 51 Int. Cl. ..G0lf 23/06, F161 47/00 [58] Field of Search..73/322, 314, 319,294, 323, I 73/306,421 R; 285/4; 220/24 B, 27;116/118 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,565,423 8/1951Evans ..73/322 3,498,141 3/1970 Nelson etal ..73/319 986,535 3/1911Adams ..73/294 3,359,799 12/1967 Lubin ..'..73/322 2,772,568 12/1956Samaritano ..73/322 1151 3,691,839 1 51 Sept. 19 1972 1,258,884 3/1918Fife 28 5/4 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 120,414 11/1918 GreatBritain ..73/322 Primary Examiner-Louis R. Prince AssistantExaminer-Daniel M. Yasich Attornej-Huebner & Worrel [57] ABSTRACT Aportable gauge for measuring the fluidcontents of a container having anopening circumscribed by a substantially horizontal wall portion, saidgauge having a base adapted to rest on 'said wall portion, a transparenttubular float extended through the base for free elevational movementwith respect thereto, and a scale extended longitudinally of the floatadjacent to the base for visual comparison therewith, the scale beingcalibrated in termsof the volumetric contents of the container atvarious fluid levels therein.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEP 19 I972 GEORGE 0. LASHER /N VE NTOR Ma )WM A TTORNEYS PORTABLE FLUID GAUGE v BACKGROUNDOFTl-IEDISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a portable fluidgauge and more particularly to such a gauge which can be convenientlyand easily utilized-for measuring the fluid contents of a container.

The invention resulted from the solution to certain problems associatedwith private aviationand can be conveniently illustrated in connectionwith such utiliza tion. The fuel gauges of private airplanesarenotoriously unreliable. .Thus, every preflight check of such anairplane should involve the accurate determination of the amount of fuelaboard the plane. The usual practice is to remove the cap from thefiller opening of each tank and by visual inspection to determine thefuel level therein. If the plane is a high-wing plane, it is usuallynecessary to employ a ladder in order to get access to the cap andfiller opening and to observe the fuel level. If the plane is a low-wingplane, access to the cap and filler opening is somewhat more easilyattained but unless the tank is full, visual inspection is only a roughguide to an estimate of the total fuelin the tank. Of the pilotendeavors to make a more accurate determination by inserting a stickinto the tank, the hazards of contaminating the fuel and lodging bits ofthe stick in the tank are present. Even with the utilization of suchastick, it nevertheless normally is necessary for the pilot to estimatethe fuel available.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, an objectof the present invention is to provide an improved portable fluid gauge.

Another object is to provide such a gauge which is simply and easilyutilized accurately to measure the fluid contents of'a container.

Another object is to provide a portable gauge, for measuring the fluidcontents of a container having an opening circumscribed by asubstantially horizontal surface, which can be directly read todetermine the fluid contents of the container by simply resting aportion of the gauge on the horizontal surface with a float portion ofthe gauge extended into the container and supported by the fluidtherein. I

Another object is to enable private pilots conveniently and easily topre-flight their fuel tanks.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged side elevation of the gauge of FIG. 1 witha base member thereof illustrated in vertical section and with a portionof the lower end of the gauge broken away for illustrative'convenience.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 3-3 of FIG..2.

' DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. 1, afluid container or fuel tank 10. is shown having a filler opening 11 inthe top thereof circumscribed .by an annular substantially horizontalflat wall portion 12. The filler opening 1 l is normally closed by acap,'not shown. The container is shown as partially filled with fuel orother fluid havingan upper lever 13.

Essentially, the gauge of the present invention consists of a basemember 16 having a float 17 supported erectly therein for free floatingmovement with respect to the base member. The base member is of integralconstruction of plastic or the like and provides a flat annular flange18 adapted to rest on the horizontal surface 12 of the tank 10. Theflange is preferably provided with concentric circular indentations 19which form weakened lines of breakage so that annular portions of theflange can be broken away, if desired, in order to reduce the diameterof the flange sufficiently to be accommodated by the annular surface 12.The flange has a concentric opening 20 and a sleeve 21 is extendedconcentrically upwardly therefrom integrally with the flange. Theopening 20 is circumscribed by a bearing surface 22 and a similarannular bearing surface 23 is provided at the upper end of the sleeve.

The float 17 has the general appearance of a chemical test tube and ispreferably formed of glass or any suitable plastic material. It providesan elongated substantially cylindrical central portion 25 which isslidably fitted to the bearing surfaces 22 and 23. The

Another object is to provide an improved portable BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a fluidcontainer having a portablegauge of the present invention shown-in sideelevation positioned within the container as utilized in measuring thecontents of the fluid therein.

float provides a closed lower end 26 and a circumscribing indentation 27just above the lower end which receives a ring 28 constrictedthereabout. The ring is of sufficient external diameter that it cannotpass through the bearing surface 22 and thus upward movement of thefloat relative to the base member is limited. The float is preferablytransparent and has a funnel-shaped upper end 29 so that fuel or thelike can be poured into the float and visually examined through thewalls thereof to discover contaminants which may be visually apparent. Ascale 32 is provided longitudinally of the float in a position forvisual comparison of the graduations of the scale with the upper'end ofthe sleeve 21. The scale is preferably calibrated to make direct readingof the volumetric fluid contents of the tank 10 directly readable. Theupper end of the float is of a sufficient diameter to preclude downwardmovement of the float from the base member, thus, the float ispermanently associated with the base'member unless the ring 28 isremoved.

' OPERATION The operation of the gauge of the present invention isbelieved to be clearly apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.In order to determine the volumetric contents of the fluid in the tank10, the flange l8 of the gauge is rested downwardly on the annular flatportion 12. If initially the flange is of too great a diamecanconveniently be reduced by breaking away outer portions of theflangealong a selected indentation 19.

With the base member 16 so disposed, the float 17 descends into the tankuntil the lower end 26 reaches the fluid 13 and is buoyantly supportedthereon. When the float has come to rest, the fluid contents of the tankcan be directly read from the scale 32. It will be appreciated that thiscan be speedily and easily accomplished.

It is frequently desirable to make visual inspection of aircraft fueland other fluids to determine if contaminants, such as water or debris,are present. This can easily be accomplished with the gauge of thepresent invention. For example, if it is the fuel of an aircraft whichis to be examined, fuel is drained from the sump of the tank into thefunnel-shaped upper end 29 of the float l7.'lt is then permitted tosettle for a moment after which visual inspection can readily determinewhether water, debris, or other contaminants are present. j

The gauge of the present invention is economical to construct, quicklyand easily utilized in determining the fluid contents of a container,obviates the hazards of contaminatingsuch fluid while measuring theirextent and makes the direct reading-of a fluid level in a containeraccurately and positively available. It has made possible the quick andaccurate pre-flight checking of the fuel aboard light aircraft. It canreadily be produced in a lightweight and compact embodiment forconvenient carrying by such aircraft or the pilots thereof. It

is conveniently'employed to make visual inspection of fuel and otherfluids which it is feared may contain contaminants.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is'recognized that depara plurality of concentric circles intendedtherein'to provide weakened breakable lines whereby the flange can beselectively sized to conform to said portion of the container, anelongated float slidably extended through the base adapted to float onthe contents of the container, and a scale borne by the float readablein reference to the base member to reveal the fluid level inthecontainer, the base member providing a tubular portion with which thefloat is telescopically vassociated, and the float being a transparenttube having an open upper end and a closed lower end useable forvisually inspecting samples of the fluid deposited therein.

1. A gauge for measuring the fluid contents of a container having afiller opening circumscribed by a substantially horizontal portion ofthe container comprising a base member having an annular flange adaptedto rest on said portion of the container, the flange having a pluralityof concentric circles intended therein to provide weakened breakablelines whereby the flange can be selectively sized to conform to saidportion of the container, an elongated float slidably extended throughthe base adapted to float on the contents of the container, and a scaleborne by the float readable in reference to the base member to revealthe fluid level in the container, the base member providing a tubularportion with which the float is telescopically associated, and the floatbeing a transparent tube having an open upper end and a closed lower enduseable for visually inspecting samples of the fluid deposited therein.